Naphthylmethylimidizoles as therapeutic agents

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a method of treating stress urinary incontinence comprising administering a compound to a mammal in need thereof, wherein said compound has the formula 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     Compositions and medicaments related thereto are also disclosed.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/052,770, filed May 13, 2008, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated in its entirety herein by reference

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a method of treating stress urinary incontinencecomprising administering a compound to a mammal in need thereof, whereinsaid compound has the formula

wherein R is H, C₁₋₄ alkyl, or CF₃;A is naphthyl having 0, 1, 2, or 3 stable substituents consisting offrom 1 to 8 heavy atoms and any required hydrogen atoms, said heavyatoms being selected from C, N, O, S, F, Cl, Br, I, and any combinationthereof.

These compounds are useful for the treatment of mammals, includinghumans, with a range of conditions and diseases that include, but arenot limited to dilation of the pupil, increased blood pressure, treatingnasal congestion, and vasoconstriction in ocular tissue.

Other uses include ischemic neuropathies, optic neuropathy, neuropathicpain, visceral pain, corneal pain, headache pain, migraine, cancer pain,back pain, irritable bowel syndrome pain, muscle pain and painassociated with diabetic neuropathy, the treatment of diabeticretinopathy, other retinal degenerative conditions, cognitive deficits,neuropsychiatric conditions, drug dependence and addiction, withdrawalsymptoms, spasticity, autism, Huntington's disease, attention deficitdisorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD,obsessive-compulsive disorders, Tourette's disorder, Parkinson's ALS,and other motor or movement disorders and diseases.

Treatment may be accomplished by administration orally, by injection, orany other means effective in delivering a therapeutically effectiveamount of the compound to the affected area. For example, the compoundmay be incorporated into a solid or liquid oral dosage form andadministered regularly, such as once or twice a day, to the mammal orperson.

DEFINITIONS, EXPLANATIONS, AND EXAMPLES

Unless explicitly and unambiguously indicated otherwise, thedefinitions, explanations, and examples provided in this section shallbe used to determine the meaning of a particular term or expressionwhere there is any ambiguity arising from other parts of this documentor from any disclosure incorporated by reference herein.

Stress urinary incontinence is a condition characterized by involuntaryloss of urine that occurs during physical activity, such as coughing,sneezing, laughing, or exercise.

Hydrocarbyl is a moiety consisting of carbon and hydrogen, including,but not limited to:

-   -   1. alkyl, which is hydrocarbyl containing no double or triple        carbon-carbon bonds; alkyl includes, but is not limited to:        -   linear alkyl, cyclic alkyl, branched alkyl, and combinations            thereof;        -   C₁₋₄ alkyl, which refers to alkyl having 1, 2, 3, or 4            carbon atoms, including, but no limited to, methyl, ethyl,            isopropyl, cyclopropyl, n-propyl, n-butyl and the like;        -   C₁₋₆ alkyl, which refers to alkyl having 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6            carbon atoms; including, but not limited to methyl, ethyl,            propyl isomers, cyclopropyl, butyl isomers, cyclobutyl,            pentyl isomers, cyclopentyl, hexyl isomers, cyclohexyl, and            the like;        -   combinations of these terms are possible, and their meanings            should be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art; for            example C₁₋₆ linear alkyl would refer to C₁₋₆ alkyl which is            also linear;    -   2. alkenyl, which is hydrocarbyl containing one or more        carbon-carbon double bonds; alkenyl includes, but is not limited        to:        -   linear alkenyl, cyclic alkenyl, branched alkenyl, and            combinations thereof;        -   alkenyl having 1, 2, 3, or more carbon-carbon double bonds;    -   3. alkynyl, which is hydrocarbyl containing one or more        carbon-carbon triple bonds; akynyl includes, but is not limited        to:        -   linear alkynyl, cyclic alkynyl, branched alkynyl, and            combinations thereof;        -   alkynyl having 1, 2, 3, or more carbon-carbon double bonds;    -   4. aryl, provided that it contains no heteroatoms either in a        ring or as a substituent;    -   5. combinations of any of the above;    -   6. C₁₋₄ hydrocarbyl, which refers to hydrocarbyl having 1, 2, 3,        or 4 carbon atoms; and    -   7. C₁₋₆ hydrocarbyl, which refers to hydrocarbyl having 1, 2, 3,        4, 5, or 6 carbon atoms.    -   Alkoxy is O-alkyl, such as OCH₃, O-ethyl, O-isopropyl, and the        like.    -   Mercaptoakyl is S-alkyl, such as SCH₃, S-ethyl, S-isopropyl, and        the like

-   -   Acyloxy is    -   Acyl is

-   -    C₁₋₅ acyl is acyl having 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 carbon atoms.

A compound, substituent, moiety, or any structural feature is stable ifit is sufficiently stable for the compound to be isolated for at least12 hours at room temperature under normal atmospheric conditions, or ifit is sufficiently stable to be useful for at least one use disclosedherein.

A heavy atom is an atom which is not hydrogen.

A heteroatom is an atom which is not carbon or hydrogen.

A pharmaceutically acceptable salt is any salt that retains the activityof the parent compound and does not impart any additional deleterious oruntoward effects on the subject to which it is administered and in thecontext in which it is administered compared to the parent compound. Apharmaceutically acceptable salt also refers to any salt which may formin vivo as a result of administration of an acid or another salt.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of acidic functional groups may bederived from organic or inorganic bases. The salt may comprise a mono orpolyvalent ion. Of particular interest are the inorganic ions lithium,sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Organic salts may be madewith amines, particularly ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and trialkylamines or ethanol amines. Salts may also be formed with caffeine,tromethamine and similar molecules. Hydrochloric acid or some otherpharmaceutically acceptable acid may form a salt with a compound thatincludes a basic group, such as an amine or a pyridine ring.

Unless otherwise indicated, reference to a compound should be construedbroadly to include pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and tautomers ofthe depicted structure. For example, the structures herein are intendedto include, but are not limited to, the tautomeric forms shown below.

Unless stereochemistry is explicitly depicted, a structure is intendedto include every possible stereoisomer, both pure or in any possiblemixture.

For the purposes of this disclosure, “treat,” “treating,” or “treatment”refer to the use of a compound, composition, therapeutically activeagent, or drug in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, preventionof disease or other undesirable condition, or to affect the structure orany function of the body of man or other animals.

R is H, C₁₋₄ alkyl, or CF₃. Thus, the following compounds arecontemplated.

In one embodiment R is H.

A is quinolinyl having 0, 1, 2, or 3 stable substituents consisting offrom 1 to 8 heavy atoms and any required hydrogen atoms, said heavyatoms being selected from C, N, O, S, F, Cl, Br, I, and any combinationthereof.

Naphthyl is

which may have substituents according to the parameters set forthherein.

Thus, for example, A may be any of the structures shown below or thelike, wherein R¹, R², and R³ are independently hydrogen or stablesubstituents consisting of from 1 to 8 heavy atoms and any requiredhydrogen atoms, said heavy atoms being selected from C, N, O, S, F, Cl,Br, I, and any combination thereof; and n is 0, 1, 2, or 3.

The position of R¹, R², and R³ may be anywhere on the ring system, andare not limited to the particular ring where they are located in thestructural depiction.

While not intending to be limiting, examples of stable substituentsconsisting of from 1 to 8 heavy atoms and any required hydrogen atomsinclude:

hydrocarbyl, including alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl isomers,butyl isomers, and the like; alkenyl, alkynyl, and phenyl;alkoxy,mercaptoalkyl,acyloxy,amino, including NH₂, NH-alkyl, N(alkyl)₂, where the alkyl groups arethe same or different;halo, including F, Cl, Br, and I; and

CH₂CN, CN; NO₂; OH.

If a substituent is a salt, for example of a carboxylic acid or anamine, the counterion of said salt, i.e. the ion that is not covalentlybonded to the remainder of the molecule is not counted for the purposesof the number of heavy atoms in a substituent. Thus, for example, thesalt —CO₂ ⁻Na⁺ is a stable substituent consisting of 3 heavy atoms, i.e.sodium is not counted. In another example, the salt —NH(Me)₂ ⁺Cl⁻ is astable substituent consisting of 3 heavy atoms, i.e. chlorine is notcounted.

In one embodiment, the substituents selected from are methyl, ethyl,propyl isomers, F, Cl, Br, I, OCH₃, NH₂, N(CH₃)₂, and combinationsthereof.

In another embodiment substituents are selected from CH₃, ethyl,t-butyl, ethenyl, ethynyl, OCH₃, NHMe, NMe₂, Br, Cl, F, phenyl, andcombinations thereof.

In another embodiment A is unsubstituted.

In another embodiment, the compound has the formula

wherein R¹, R², and R³ are independently hydrogen or stable substituentsconsisting of from 1 to 8 heavy atoms and any required hydrogen atoms,said heavy atoms being selected from C, N, O, S, F, Cl, Br, I, and anycombination thereof; and n is 0, 1, 2, or 3.

In another embodiment, the compound has the formula

wherein R¹ is hydrogen or a stable substituent consisting of from 1 to 8heavy atoms and any required hydrogen atoms, said heavy atoms beingselected from C, N, O, S, F, Cl, Br, I, and any combination thereof; andn is 0, 1, 2, or 3;R⁴ and R⁵ are independently H, C₁₋₄ alkyl, or C₁₋₅ acyl.

In another embodiment, the compound has the formula

wherein R⁴ and R⁵ are independently H, C₁₋₄ alkyl, or C₁₋₅ acyl.

In another embodiment, the compound has the formula

wherein R⁴ and R⁵ are independently H, C₁₋₄ alkyl, or C₁₋₅ acyl.

In another embodiment, the compound has the formula

In another embodiment, the compound has the formula

wherein R¹, R², and R³ are independently hydrogen or stable substituentsconsisting of from 1 to 8 heavy atoms and any required hydrogen atoms,said heavy atoms being selected from C, N, O, S, F, Cl, Br, I, and anycombination thereof; and n is 0, 1, 2, or 3.

In another embodiment, the compound has the formula

In another embodiment, the compound has the formula

Biological Data Receptor Selection and Amplification Technology (RSAT)assay

The RSAT assay measures a receptor-mediated loss of contact inhibitionthat results in selective proliferation of receptor-containing cells ina mixed population of confluent cells. The increase in cell number isassessed with an appropriate transfected marker gene such as□-galactosidase, the activity of which can be easily measured in a96-well format. Receptors that activate the G protein, Gq, elicit thisresponse. Alpha2 receptors, which normally couple to Gi, activate theRSAT response when coexpressed with a hybrid Gq protein that has a Gireceptor recognition domain, called Gq/i5.

NIH-3T3 cells are plated at a density of 2×106 cells in 15 cm dishes andmaintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10%calf serum. One day later, cells are cotransfected by calcium phosphateprecipitation with mammalian expression plasmids encodingp-SV-□-galactosidase (5-10 μg), receptor (1-2 μg) and G protein (1-2μg). 40 μg salmon sperm DNA may also be included in the transfectionmixture. Fresh media is added on the following day and 1-2 days later,cells are harvested and frozen in 50 assay aliquots. Cells are thawedand 100 μl added to 100 μl aliquots of various concentrations of drugsin triplicate in 96-well dishes. Incubations continue 72-96 hr at 37° C.After washing with phosphate-buffered saline, β-galactosidase enzymeactivity is determined by adding 200 μl of the chromogenic substrate(consisting of 3.5 mM o-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside and 0.5%nonidet P-40 in phosphate buffered saline), incubating overnight at 30°C. and measuring optical density at 420 nm. The absorbance is a measureof enzyme activity, which depends on cell number and reflects areceptor-mediated cell proliferation. The efficacy or intrinsic activityis calculated as a ratio of the maximal effect of the drug to themaximal effect of a standard full agonist for each receptor subtype.Brimonidine, also called UK14304, the chemical structure of which isshown below, is used as the standard agonist for the alpha_(2A),alpha_(2B) and alpha_(2C) receptors. The EC₅₀ is the concentration atwhich the drug effect is half of its maximal effect.

The results of the RSAT assay with several exemplary compounds of theinvention are disclosed in Table 1 above together with the chemicalformulas of these exemplary compounds. EC₅₀ values are nanomolar. NAstands for “not active” at concentrations less than 10 micromolar. IAstands for “intrinsic activity.”

TABLE 1 Alpha Alpha Alpha Alpha 1A 2A 2B 2C EC50 EC50 EC50 EC50Structure (IA) (IA) (IA) (IA)

13   (1.2)  NA NA NA

11.6 (1.26) NA 553 (0.31) NA

55   (1.01) NA 146 (0.46) NA

Compounds 7, 5, and 8 are named as follows:

-   N-methyl-4-((5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)naphthalen-1-amine    (7);-   N,N-dimethyl-4-((5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)naphthalen-1-amine    (5); and-   4-((5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)naphthalen-1-amine (8).

Compounds H4-H22 are hypothetical examples of compounds that are usefulas disclosed herein.

Synthetic Methods

4-Iodo-5-methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazole and 5iodo-4-methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazole (2): A mixture of4-iodo-5-methyl-1H-imidazole (1) (10.5 g, 50.7 mmol) and trityl chloride(14.4 g, 50.7 mmol) in dichloromethane (100 mL) was added triethylamine(17.6 mL, 126 mmol), and the reaction mixture was stirred at roomtemperature overnight. The mixture was quenched with ammonium chloride(aq), and the aqueous medium was extracted twice with dichloromethane(400 mL). The pooled organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate.The mixture was filtered and the solvents were removed under vacuum togive sticky yellow solid. The crude product was triturated in hexane togive a mixture of 4-iodo-5-methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazole and 5iodo-4-methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazole (2) as a white solid (20 g, 44.4mmol, 87% yield).

(4-(Dimethylamino)naphthalen-1-yl)(5-methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methanoland(4-(dimethylamino)naphthalen-1-yl)(4-methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methanol(4): A solution of (2) (5.1 g, 11.3 mmol) in dichloromethane (70 ml) wasadded ethyl magnesium bromide (3.0 M in diethyl ether, 3.8 mL, 11.4mmol) drop wise at rt. The mixture was stirred for 1 h and a solution of4-(dimethylamino)-1-naphthaldehyde (3) (1.15 g, 7.35 mmol) indichloromethane (30 mL) was added drop wise via addition funnel. Thereaction mixture was stirred at room temperature (rt) overnight. Thereaction mixture was quenched with ammonium chloride (aq). The resultingaqueous layer was extracted twice with dichloromethane (300 mL). Thepooled organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate. The mixture wasfiltered, and the solvents were removed under vacuum. The residue waspurified by chromatography on silica gel with 1 to 2% saturated ammoniamethanol in dichloromethane to give a crude(4-(dimethylamino)naphthalen-1-yl)(5-methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methanoland(4-(dimethylamino)naphthalen-1-yl)(4-methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methanol(4) (3.35 g, 6.40 mmol, 87% yield).

N,N-Dimethyl-4-((5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)naphthalen-1-amine(5): A solution of (4) (3.35 g, 6.40 mmol) in TFA (30 mL) was addedtriethylsilane (6 mL, 38.4 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred atroom temperature overnight. TFA was removed under vacuum. The residuewas basified with 2 M sodium hydroxide to pH>7. The aqueous layer wasextracted three times with chloroform/isopropanol (3:1200 mL). Thepooled organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate. The mixture wasfiltered and the solvents were removed under vacuum. The residue waspurified by chromatography on silica gel with 2 to 5% saturated ammoniamethanol in dichloromethane to giveN,N-dimethyl-4-((5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)naphthalen-1-amine (5)(0.55 g, 2.07 mmol, 32% yield), and(4-(dimethylamino)naphthalen-1-yl)(5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methanol(6) (0.45 g, 1.60 mmol, 25% yield).

N,N-Dimethyl-4-((5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)naphthalen-1-amine(5)¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.29-8.28 (m, 1H), 7.98-7.96 (m, 1H),7.50-7.45 (m, 2H), 7.37 (s, 1H), 7.18 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.0 (d, J=8.0Hz, 1H), 4.26 (s, 3H), 2.87 (s, 6H), 2.24 (s, 3H).

N-Methyl-4-((5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)naphthalen-1-amine (7) and4-((5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)naphthalen-1-amine (8): A mixtureof (6) (0.45 g, 1.60 mmol) and red phosphorus (0.50 g, 16.1 mmol) inhydroiodic acid (57% in water, 8 mL) was heated in sealed tube at 160°C. over night. The reaction mixture was cooled to rt, and the sealedtube was slowly open to release the gas built up inside. The content waspoured into crushed ice, and carefully basified with NaOH (aq.) to pH>7.The aqueous layer was diluted with chloroform/isopropanol (3:1, 100 mL).The mixture was filtered through a bed of Celite to removed phosphorus.The layers were separated. The aqueous layer was extracted twice withchloroform/isopropanol (3:1, 100 ml). The pooled organic layers weredried over magnesium sulfate. The mixture was filtered and the solventswere removed under vacuum. The residue was purified by chromatography onsilica gel with 3% ammonia saturated methanol in dichloromethane to givea mixture of (5),N-methyl-4-((5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)naphthalen-1-amine (7),and 4-((5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)naphthalen-1-amine (8) (0.296g). The mixture (110 mg) was purified by reverse phase HPLC to separate(7) (52 mg), and (8) (17 mg).

(7) ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.92-7.90 (m, 1H), 7.83-7.82 (m, 1H),7.48-7.42 (m, 2H), 7.33 (s, 1H), 7.19 (d, J=7.50 Hz, 1H), 6.53 (d,J=7.50 Hz, 1H), 4.22 (s, 2H), 3.01 (s, 3H), 2.25 (s, 3H).

(8) ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.91-7.84 (m, 1H), 7.47-7.45 (m, 2H),7.30 (s, 1H), 7.06 (d, J=7.50 Hz, 1H), 6.69 (d, J=7.00, 1H), 4.20 (s,2H), 2.22 (s, 3H).

(5-methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)(naphthalen-1-yl)methanol and(4-methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)(naphthalen-1-yl)methanol (10): Thesame synthetic route to make (4) was used.

(5-Methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)(naphthalen-1-yl)methanone and(4-methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)(naphthalen-1-yl)methanone (11): Amixture of (10) (4.48 g, 8.33 mmol) and manganese dioxide (9.85 g, 93.6mmol) in dioxane (50 mL) was heated at 100° C. overnight. The mixturewas cooled to rt, and filtered through a bed of Celite and bed waswashed with ethyl acetate. The filtrate was concentrated under vacuum.The residue was purified by chromatography on silica gel with 80% hexaneand 20% ethyl acetate to give(5-methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)(naphthalen-1-yl)methanone and(4-methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)(naphthalen-1-yl)methanone (11)(2.52 g, 5.27 mmol, 56% yield).

1-(5-Methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-1-(naphthalen-1-yl)ethanol and1-(4-methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-1-(naphthalen-1-yl)ethanol (12):A solution of (11) (1.33 g, 2.78 mmol) in dichloromethane (50 mL) at 0°C. was added methyl magnesium bromide (3.0 M in diethyl ether, 1.85 mL,5.50 mmol) drop wise. The reaction mixture was warmed to roomtemperature over night. The mixture was quenched with ammonium chloride(aq). The resulting aqueous layer was extracted with chloroform threetimes (200 mL). The pooled organic layers were dried over magnesiumsulfate. The mixture was filtered, and the solvents were removed undervacuum. The residue was purified by chromatography on silica gel with50% hexane and 50% ethyl acetate to give1-(5-methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-1-(naphthalen-1-yl)ethanol and1-(4-methyl-1-trityl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-1-(naphthalen-1-yl)ethanol (12)(1.21 g, 2.45 mmol, 88% yield).

5-Methyl-4-(1-(naphthalen-1-yl)vinyl)-1H-imidazole (13): The samesynthetic route to make (5) was used. The product mixture of5-methyl-4-(1-(naphthalen-1-yl)vinyl)-1H-imidazole (13) (major) and5-methyl-4-(1-(naphthalen-1-yl)ethyl)-1H-imidazole (14) (minor) was usedin the next step.

5-Methyl-4-(1-(naphthalen-1-yl)ethyl)-1H-imidazole (14): Crude (13) inethanol was hydrogenated (50 psi H₂) over Pd/C (10%, 0.19 g) over night.The reaction was filtered through a bed of Celite. The filtrate wasadded silica gel, and the solvent was removed under vacuum. Crudeproduct on silica was purified by chromatography on silica gel with 2%saturated ammonia methanol in dichloromethane to give (14) as a lighttan foam (423 mg, 1.79 mmol, 73% over 2 steps).

(14)¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.06-8.03 (m, 1H), 7.78-7.75 (m, 1H),7.62 (d, J=8.10 Hz, 1H), 7.42-7.37 (m, 3H), 7.32 (q, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.20(s, 1H), 4.87 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 1.99 (s, 3H), 1.71 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 3H).

Alternate attachment of the naphthyl ring may be obtained by using2-naphthaldehyde or a substituted 2-naphthaldehyde instead of 9.

Additional substitution on the naphthyl ring of A may be obtained bypurchasing the corresponding substituted naphthaldehyde. Alternatively,additional substituents may be added to the naphthyl ring by methodsknown in the art.

Different R groups may be obtained by using the corresponding Grignardreagent instead of MeMgBr in the conversion of 11 to 12.

Other alternate routes to a wide variety of compounds are readilyapparent to those skilled in the art.

These compounds may be formulated into solid, liquid, or other types ofdosage forms using methods known in the art. Both formulation of dosageforms and determination of a therapeutically effective dose can bereadily made by a person of ordinary skill using routine methods.

The foregoing description details specific methods and compositions thatcan be employed to practice the present invention, and represents thebest mode contemplated. However, it is apparent for one of ordinaryskill in the art that further compounds with the desired pharmacologicalproperties can be prepared in an analogous manner, and that thedisclosed compounds can also be obtained from different startingcompounds via different chemical reactions. Similarly, differentpharmaceutical compositions may be prepared and used with substantiallythe same result. Thus, however detailed the foregoing may appear intext, it should not be construed as limiting the overall scope hereof;rather, the ambit of the present invention is to be governed only by thelawful construction of the claims.

1. A method of treating stress urinary incontinence comprisingadministering a compound to a mammal in need thereof, said compoundhaving a formula:

wherein R is H, C₁₋₄ alkyl, or CF₃; A is naphthyl having 0, 1, 2, or 3stable substituents consisting of from 1 to 8 heavy atoms and anyrequired hydrogen atoms, said heavy atoms being selected from C, N, O,S, F, Cl, Br, I, and any combination thereof.
 2. The method of claim 1wherein R is H.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said substituents areselected from CH₃, ethyl, t-butyl, ethenyl, ethynyl, OCH₃, NHMe, NMe₂,Br, Cl, F, phenyl, and combinations thereof.
 4. The method of claim 1wherein A is unsubstituted.
 5. The method of claim 1, said compoundbeing further characterized by the formula:

wherein R¹, R², and R³ are independently hydrogen or stable substituentsconsisting of from 1 to 8 heavy atoms and any required hydrogen atoms,said heavy atoms being selected from C, N, O, S, F, Cl, Br, I, and anycombination thereof; and n is 0, 1, 2, or
 3. 6. The method of claim 5,said compound being further characterized by the formula:


7. The method of claim 1, said compound being further characterized bythe formula:

wherein R¹, R², and R³ are independently hydrogen or stable substituentsconsisting of from 1 to 8 heavy atoms and any required hydrogen atoms,said heavy atoms being selected from C, N, O, S, F, Cl, Br, I, and anycombination thereof; and n is 0, 1, 2, or
 3. 8. The method of claim 7,said compound being further characterized by the formula:


8. The method of claim 7, said compound being further characterized bythe formula:


9. The method of claim 3, wherein said compound is selected from:N-methyl-4-((5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)naphthalen-1-amine;N,N-dimethyl-4-((5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)naphthalen-1-amine;and 4-((5-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl)naphthalen-1-amine.
 10. Themethod according to claim 1 wherein R is methyl.
 11. The methodaccording claim 1 wherein R is ethyl.
 12. The method according to claim1 wherein R is CF₃.
 13. The method of claim 5, said compound beingfurther characterized by the formula:

wherein R⁴ and R⁵ are independently H, C₁₋₄ alkyl, or C₁₋₅ acyl.
 14. Themethod of claim 5, said compound being further characterized by theformula:

wherein R⁴ and R⁵ are independently H, C₁₋₄ alkyl, or C₁₋₅ acyl.